Trolley-finder.



PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. J. WILHELM.

TROLLEY FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 1905.

JAMES WILHELM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TROLLEY-FINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed June 20,1905. Serial No- 266,162.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs WILHELM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trolley-Finders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in trolley-finders, and has for its object to provide a device consisting of two guards which extend upward above the trolley-wheel a certain distance, so that if the trolley-wheel moves downward so as to leave the wire the guards on each side will guide the wire back upon the trolley-Wheel when the trolley-pole rises again. These guards upon each side are pivoted upon the same pivot as the trolleywheel, so that when they move downward out of the way they strike a cross-bar or any other obstruction, these guards being widened, so as to automatically resume their position after the cross-wire or guard is passed.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved trolley-finder applied to a trolley wheel and pole; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a similar view to Fig. 1, showing the position the trolley-iinder would assume when passing a cross-wire.

A represents the trolley-pole, B is the trolley-wheel, and C is the harp.

My improvement consists of two bars D, pivoted intermediate of their two ends upon the same pivot as the trolley-wheel B. That portion of the bars below the pivotal point is longer or heavier than the portion of the bars above the pivotal point, and the upper end of the bars are curved -rearward or away from the direction in which the car is traveling. That portion of the bars above the trolley-wheel extends inward toward one another, so as to overhang the trolley wheel and harp, the space between the upper ends of the bars being less in width than the trolley-wheel, so that When the trolley-wheel leaves the wire these inward edges of the bar will guide the wire back upon the trolleywheel. The lower ends of the bars below the pivotal point being heavier than that portion above will tend to always hold the bars in the position shown in Fig. 1, with the upper ends of the bars extending upward a considerable distance above the wire. A clip or strap E is, fastened to the lower end of the bars and extends over the trolley-pole, so as to limit the movement of the bars downward. When a cross-wire or other obstruction strikes the upper end of the bars, said bars will readily turn upon their pivot, raising the lower end of the bars; but as soon as the obstruction is passed the lower end of the bars will drop to their normal position or until stopped by the strap or clip E coming in contact with the pole A. Thus it will be seen that I have in the simplest possible manner provided an effective trolley-finder which may be applied easily, quickly, and cheaply to any form of trolley, and it will be entirely automatic in its action.

In order to pull the guards downward at the same time the pole ispulled downward when it is desired to swing the trolley around to the opposite end of the car, the upper end of the guards above the pivot upon the rearward side thereof is provided with a hole F, in which a rope G is secured which extends downward to the platform of the car, and by pulling downward upon this rope the bars may be tilted upon their pivot. Another and probably the principal object of having a separate rope attached in the holes in the upper end of the bars is for the purpose of tilting these bars, so as to bring the upper ends below any cross obstructions while the car is traveling backward without removing the trolley-wheel from the wire.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without depart ing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In combination with a trolley-pole, a harp and trolley-wheel, two bars, one arranged upon each side of the trolley-harp and pivoted concentric with the trolley-wheel, the upper portion of eachbar being thickened so as to reduce the space between these upper ends, to less than the width of the trolleywheel ,aU-shaped strap connecting the lower mally surround the trolley pole and rest thereon to limit the swinging movement of' the bars, said strap in conjunction with the lower ends of the bars, being of sufiicient weight to overbalance the upper ends of the bars, and means under control of the conductor upon the car for drawing the upper ends of the bars downward so as to free them from the trolley-wire, prior to pulling the pole down by the same means, as specified.

2. In a trolleyfinder, the combination of a trolleypole, harp and trolley-wheel, with two bars, one arranged upon each side and pivoted intermediate of their ends upon the same pivot as the trolley-wheel, the lower portion of the bars being heavier than the upper portion so that the tendency of the bars is to remain upright with the upper por tion extending a distance above the trolley- Wire, theupper end of the bars being curved rearward, and that portion of the bars above the trolley-wheel extending inward toward one another so that the distance between the bars is narrower than the trolley-wheel, the upper end of the bars being provided with a hole a rope secured through said hole adapted to extend downward to the platform of the car, and a strap secured at each of its ends to the lower end of the bars and extending over the trolley-pole to limit the downward movement of the bars, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JAMES WILHELM. 

